Alaa Abd El Fattah, a prominent blogger, known as a key figure in the local 2011 uprising, has recently been sentenced to 15 years in jail for arranging a demonstration on the Internet. The blogger had been arrested by each of Egypt’s 5 leaders since Mubarak. Abd El Fattah was one of the activists who are most associated with the 2011 uprising in Egypt, which briefly ended 60 years of autocratic rule. Now the blogger was sentenced to 15 years in jail for allegedly arranging a protest online.

According to his sister, also a prominent campaigner, Abd El Fattah and another activist were sentenced in absentia. Before that, they were barred from entering the courtroom, arrested and taken to jail by some of the officials who had earlier blocked the blogger’s entrance. She wrote on Facebook that her brother was waiting for the judge to allow the guards to enter the venue and attend their session, but instead someone from the prosecution arrested them and took to prison.

The most interesting thing is that the blogger didn’t participate in the protest against military trials that he was accused of arranging. Apparently, the military just wanted to jail him. Two months ago, two dozen policemen raided the blogger’s house, broke the door down, and proceeded to confiscate his and his family’s PCs and mobile phones. In response to his demand to show the arrest warrant, the police beat him and his wife up.

The prisons in Egypt are full of people who supported the protests against the government. For example, you can find there several well-known revolutionary leaders – for example, Mahienour El-Masry. The latter led protests against police violence four years ago which set the stage for the 2011 uprising. Another key figure was Ahmed Maher, the co-founder of the April youth movement and the person who inspired anti-Mubarak demonstrations.

It is known that Abd El Fattah was jailed under Mubarak, then under the military junta which succeeded him, and then under Adly Mansour, the interim president installed following the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi a year ago. Under Morsi, the blogger managed to escape prison, but was placed under investigation. Now it seems that the authorities are serious about putting him in jail forever.

It wasn't all that long ago that the police could just bust down your door and haul you away. They Might just give you a little "tune-up" or bury you in the system, especially if you were Black. No Warrant, no probable cause, no lawyer, no rights or all of which we now call due process. These all are enforced in the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. We are starting to lose these inalienable rights slowly but surely. Free Speech? Ya right. Go get a podium and a mic then start preaching against the U.S. government about taxes or whatever thing we may not like and how we need to form anti Government groups. Though in the word kill, bomb and the president and see how far your freedom of speech takes you. I would be willing to bet the majority of us didn't know Egypt was under a form of dictatorship. Aren't they are friends? Yes they are our friends as long as you can stretch a dollar.

It seems that this blogger was anti -government for the last few governments at least and not just against one in particular which seems quite anarchic as such he may well be seen as a threat to the current leadership and its western backers,after having your home ,and PC`s trashed as well as beatings and imprisonment one hopes he STFU before they take him for a short ride into the desert with a shovel one night never to be seen or heard of again.

if you actually believe that a man was jailed for 15 years for supposedly arranging a protest online well then you will believe anything you read. the man has obviously done alot more than what they are telling you here.

The Egyptian govt will jail ANYONE they accuse of anti government rhetoric.
There is an Australian journalist who has been in jail in Egypt for 12 months for "anti government comments".
They drag him to court in chains....sit him and his co-accused in a cage and then adjourn the case...every time..!!!
And now they have suddenly announced that this week is his sentencing..despite his defense not even having a chance to air his case due to all the adjournments...